Neville Longbottom (character)
Template:HP character Neville Longbottom is a fictional character in J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter book series. He is described as a round-faced Gryffindor student in Harry's year. Throughout the series, he is often portrayed as a bumbling and disorganised character, and a rather mediocre student (though he is highly gifted at Herbology). However, the character's personality appears to undergo a transition after he joins Dumbledore's Army in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. The encouragement he receives gives him confidence in his magical abilities, turning him into a more competent wizard.
Neville has been played by Matthew Lewis in all of the Harry Potter films to date.
Character background
Neville's birth date is July 30, 1980, the day before Harry Potter's. His parents are Frank and Alice Longbottom, Aurors and prominent members of the Order of the Phoenix during the first war against Lord Voldemort. As the series progresses, he becomes close friends with Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, Hermione Granger, Ginny Weasley, and Luna Lovegood.
As part of Neville's back story, Rowling reveals that both of his parents were tortured to the point of insanity by Death Eaters, notably Bellatrix Lestrange, with the Cruciatus Curse. Frank and Alice now reside in a closed ward of St Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries. Neville's paternal grandmother, Augusta, has raised him from a young age. The loss of his parents to madness affects Neville greatly, and he keeps their condition a secret. Harry, however, learns of their fate in Albus Dumbledore's Pensieve, and, in the fifth book, Ron, Hermione and Ginny discover the truth accidentally in St Mungo's.
Early on, it is established that Neville is terrified of his grandmother, who is a strict disciplinarian and a perfectionist. She appears to want Neville to follow his father's example, regardless of his desires or suitability. It was initially feared by Neville's family, especially his grandmother, that he was a Squib. Neville describes a time when he was younger and his great-uncle Algie attempted to "scare the magic out" of him by throwing him off one of Blackpool's piers to see if he would float (or at least not be harmed), as well as dangling him out of a window, before accidentally dropping him; Neville's magic caused him to bounce into the street. Neville's family is relieved, therefore, when he receives his letter inviting him to Hogwarts. Indeed, Algie is so proud that he presents Neville with a pet toad, which he names Trevor. In addition to Trevor, Neville also has something of a pet in his Mimbulus mimbletonia, an extremely rare plant resembling a grey cactus covered in boils, which was a birthday present that Algie got for him in Assyria.
The Longbottoms are not as poor as the Weasleys, and they seem to be considered a more respectable family in pure-blood circles: Cedrella Black was disowned for marrying Septimus Weasley, but her sister Callidora, who married Harfang Longbottom, remains on the Black family tapestry.
Appearances
First four books
Although a secondary character in the first four books, Neville appears often in the role of comic relief. He is one of Harry's strongest supporters over the course of the series, and takes part in some of the trio's first adventures. Neville makes one significant contribution in his first year at Hogwarts: by attempting to stand up to Harry, Ron and Hermione when he sees them about to break the rules and possibly do more harm to Gryffindor house, he earns the respect of Dumbledore. For this act Dumbledore mentions him especially at the end of year dinner, pointing out the bravery required to stand up to one's friends and awarding him the final 10 points necessary for Gryffindor house to beat Slytherin. In Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, despite being a Pure-blood wizard, Neville fears that Slytherin's monster would attack him because he is "almost a Squib", as he is poorly skilled at school.
However, in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher Remus Lupin is one of the first to help Neville develop his true power by asking him to confront and destroy a Boggart, which Neville successfully did. Also in that book, he accidentaly loses a paper that listed all the passwords to enter Gryffindor Tower, allowing Sirius Black to enter the tower and look for Peter Pettigrew. In Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire the author reveals for the first time why Neville was raised by her grandmother. During one of the fake Alastor Moody's lessons, Neville introduces the Cruciatus Curse to the rest of the class, for it was the curse that permanently incapacited his parents, and is terrified upon viewing the effects of the curse used on a spider. The fake Moody later gives Neville a Herbology book so that he could assist Harry in getting Gillyweed to survive the second task in the Triwizard Tournament; however, Harry never asked him help. He was accompained by Ginny to the Yule Ball.
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
During his fifth year at Hogwarts, Neville's magical abilities improve dramatically under the tutelage of Harry during meetings of Dumbledore's Army. He also receives far greater characterization than he has in the past, with Harry, and thus the reader, coming to understand him on a deeper level, beginning when Harry's friends learn about the fate of Neville's parents at St Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries. Shortly afterwards, a number of Death Eaters escape Azkaban, including Bellatrix Lestrange, the witch who was mainly responsible for torturing his parents. Neville then devotes himself to Harry's training regimen, and becomes second only to Hermione in terms of aptitude amongst Harry's pupils.
Neville saves Harry's life during the battle in the Department of Mysteries, and plays a key role, if inadvertently, in keeping Lord Voldemort from knowing the prophecy made about "Dark Lord and (?) Harry Potter"[HP5]. He and Harry are also the only students left standing after the battle, despite a Death Eater breaking both Neville's nose and his father's wand. His usefulness is impaired by his nose being broken, which alters his voice and renders his spell casting ineffective.
Because the prophecy was destroyed during the battle, neither Harry nor Neville manage to hear its contents. Albus Dumbledore, to whom the prophecy was originally made, explains that it concerns "the Chosen One", a wizard that would have the power to vanquish Voldemort. This "Chosen One" would be born "as the seventh month dies", and thus could refer to either Neville, born July 30, 1980, or Harry, born July 31, one day later.[HP5] It is Dumbledore's opinion that Voldemort indeed marked the "Chosen One" by attacking Harry rather than Neville. According to Rowling, this "does not give Neville either hidden powers or a mysterious destiny ... Neville remains the tantalising 'might-have-been.' " She acknowledges that this "dull" answer may disappoint some fans.[1]
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
Neville receives a new wand, made of cherry wood and unicorn hair, as his previous wand was destroyed while fighting Death Eaters in Order of the Phoenix. He proudly asserts that his new wand was one of the last which Ollivander sold before disappearing. The wand appears to have added further improvement to Neville's school performance. It has been commented on several occasions "the wand chooses the wizard," and that one "never gets as good results with another wizard's wand"; Neville had previously been using his father's wand. During the train ride to Hogwarts, Neville is invited to join Horace Slughorn in his cabin, along with several other students, to join the Slug Club, but apparently did not pass Slughorn's first test as he was not invited again.
It is revealed that Neville achieved an "Outstanding" in Herbology, and he did well in Defence Against the Dark Arts and Charms, earning an "Exceeds Expectations." He earned an "Acceptable" in Transfiguration, and is disappointed when Professor McGonagall will not allow him to join her N.E.W.T.-level class. Instead, he continues to Advanced Charms, despite his grandmother believing Charms to be a "soft option". When Neville tells Professor McGonagall that his grandmother feels Charms is a "soft option" and prefers that he take Transfiguration, McGonagall informs him that "It's high time your grandmother learned to be proud of the grandson she's got, rather than the one she thinks she ought to have." and that "Just because Augusta failed her Charms O.W.L. doesn't mean the subject is entirely worthless."[HP6]
Neville wants the Dumbledore's Army meetings to continue, as he feels they have helped him and the others to improve their skills, however they stop as Harry now says there is no need as they now have a "proper teacher". When a group of Death Eaters guided by Draco Malfoy attack the castle, Neville answers the call for help, and he fights against the Death Eaters once again, though he suffers minor injuries.
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
With Harry's absence and the control of Hogwarts in the hands of Severus Snape and Death Eaters Alecto and Amycus Carrow, Neville spends much of his seventh year as the resistance leader against Voldemort's takeover. Together with Ginny and Luna, Neville reactivates Dumbledore's Army, stepping into the leadership position in Harry's absence and helping students who were tormented under the new regime. Neville reveals that the Carrows beat him and that, under their command, the Auror Dawlish tried unsuccessfully to kidnap his grandmother (who swiftly overwhelmed her opponent). Neville goes into hiding in the Room of Requirement, which he shows an incredible ability to control, because he, along with a number of other students, had such a great need for its protection. It has transformed into a large ship-like circular room, with hammocks and banners of Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, and Ravenclaw hanging from the walls. Upon Harry's return to Hogwarts, Neville sends messages to Dumbledore's Army, which in turn gathers the Order of the Phoenix. Neville is a leading figure among the students during the Battle of Hogwarts.
During the battle, Neville is spotted twice by Harry using his knowledge of Herbology to help ward off the attackers. With Professor Sprout and a dozen other students, they hurl aggressive and violent plants at the Death Eaters from the castle walls. He is later seen helping Oliver Wood carry the body of Colin Creevey. Before his penultimate confrontation with Voldemort, Harry warns Neville about the importance of Nagini, Voldemort's snake and will-be final Horcrux, and asks him to remind Ron and Hermione of the same -- if the two are unable, he asks that Neville destroy Nagini if the opportunity presents itself. After Voldemort returns with Harry's apparently lifeless body, Neville defies him. After Bellatrix Lestrange identifies Neville, Voldemort offers him a place among the Death Eaters due to his Pure-Blood status and his bravery, but Neville refuses by yelling, "I'll join you when hell freezes over... Dumbledore's Army!" to the applause and cheers of the remaining Hogwarts defenders. Voldemort responds by placing Neville in a Body-Bind Curse, summoning the Sorting Hat, placing it on Neville's head and setting it on fire, as a sign of showing both his control over Hogwarts and a warning to those who continue to fight against him.
When reinforcements arrive and Voldemort is distracted, Neville manages to break free of the curse, pull the Sorting Hat off his head, draw the Sword of Godric Gryffindor from it, and decapitate Nagini, which in turn destroys the final Horcrux, making Voldemort mortal once again. By playing such a vital role in the final battle, Neville is showing he truly belongs in Gryffindor. When the battle goes to the Great Hall, he is shown assisting Ron in taking down Fenrir Greyback. After the battle is won, Neville is shown surrounded by a group of admirers.
Throughout the series, he gains the courage to fight against both Voldemort and the Death Eaters, and does his part in ending Voldemort's reign of terror.
Epilogue
In the epilogue of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Ginny mentions that he has gone on to be the Herbology professor at Hogwarts. In an interview, J.K. Rowling also mentioned that he shows off his D.A. coin to many admiring students and tells them about his adventures.[2] Neville eventually marries Hannah Abbott, who becomes the new landlady at the Leaky Cauldron.[3]
References
- ^ http://www.jkrowling.com/textonly/en/faq_view.cfm?id=84 JKrowling.com Retrieved on 05-30-07
- ^ "J.K. Rowling Web Chat Transcript". The Leaky Cauldron. 2007-07-30. Retrieved 2007-07-30.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ Weingarten, Tara, Rowling Says Dumbledore Is Gay, retrieved 2007-10-19
